Erectile Dysfunction (ED) Medication Side Effects
The FDA announced that the popular erectile dysfunction medications Viagra, Levitra and Cialis have been linked to sudden temporary hearing loss in patients.
The FDA found that reports of sudden hearing loss, both with and without accompanying vestibular symptoms (dizziness), in direct association with dosing of Viagra, Levitra and Cialis. In one third of the cases the hearing loss was temporary, the agency said, the remaining cases were described as ongoing at the time of the report of the outcome had not been described.
An FDA alert released on July 8, 2005 also warns that a small number of men have lost their eyesight following the use of Viagra, or similar Erectile Dysfunction (ED) drugs such as Cialis or Levitra. The type of vision loss that has been reported is called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). NAION is a condition that occurs when small arteries surrounding the eye do not get enough blood, causing a spontaneous stroke in the optic nerve.
The FDA released this alert following nearly 50 reports of temporary or permanent blindness stemming from the use of the impotence drug. Viagra was originally approved by the FDA on March 27, 1998 and has since been prescribed to as many as 23 million patients worldwide. Critics of the drug say that Pfizer, the manufacturer of Viagra, did not properly warn consumers of the potentially dangerous side effects such as blindness and strokes.
The first case of NAION in a Viagra user was reported in 2000, yet no action was taken by the FDA or by Pfizer for five years. The FDA and Pfizer ignored early warning signs, an have not taken the potentially fatal side effects seriously. To date, the only change that has been made is an update to the drug’s label.
ED drugs such as Viagra, Cialis and Levitra are known to cause a sudden and significant drop in blood pressure. This condition can prove deadly for those who take ED medication with other drugs such as alpha-blockers and nitrates.
Other side effects experienced by users of Viagra, Cialis and Levitra:
- Stroke
- Complete vision loss
- Temporary, blurred vision
- Sudden hearing loss
- Dyspepsia
- Palpitations
- Urinary tract infections
- Prolonged erections
- Priapism
- Severe hypotension
- Myocardial infarction
If you or a loved one have experienced any side effects from the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra, Cialis or Levitra, including sudden vision loss or sudden hearing loss, please call us at 1.800.966.4999 or fill out our online contact form for a free case evaluation.
